When looking at the physical demands of different jobs and likelihood of being injured, the field in most urgent need of help is nursing. The nursing shortage isn't due to no one wanting to be a nurse. Professionals and students who want the job or have the job experience the risks, injuries, and burnout, and leave the field. Nurses incur work-related musculoskeletal disorders seven times more than all other occupations. Nursing aids, orderlies, and attendants lift a cumulative 1.8 tons in a single 8-hour shift. The physical demands of this job are astounding, and they only become more intense as health care facilities become short staffed. The good news is that safe handling equipment is immediately effective and cost-recoupable in about 5 years.
Take, for example, John Dempsey Hospital in Connecticut. Their patient handling program was designed with the goal of being the safest hospital in the state. Their latest lift was purchased with the specific goal of reducing the staff injuries resulting from lifting, moving, and repositioning patients. Patients in turn have a safer experience as they are less likely to incur bruising or skin tears in the move. The safest hospital in the state likely sees more patients and attracts more nurses than other hospitals. Let's look at some aspects of nursing safety:
Lifting patients - obviously, lifting people who weigh hundreds of pounds is what accumulates to that average 1.8 tons the fastest. There are a variety of mechanized solutions for lifting, turning, and transporting patients. This saves nurses from both accumulated and immediate trauma, especially to their low backs.
Lifting other objects - those in the nursing field have many job responsibilities, some of which include lifting/transporting equipment and containers as well as emptying receptacles. These activities recruit many other movements that increase the risk of injury, like twisting, bending, and repetitive movements. Motorized equipment also exists for lifting objects, which is not only safer on the back, but neck and shoulders as well.
Distance walked to obtain supplies - nurses are on their feet and on the move all day and night. They often are rotating their shifts, which mean getting enough sleep is a challenge. Lack of sleep and constant movement greatly add to fatigue, and fatigue can create a lot of other safety issues for both nurse and patient. Centralized or mobile workstations can help decrease unnecessary exhaustion and help health care workers save their energy for other job duties.
Pushing and pulling - other manual material handling jobs focus a lot of safety instruction on pushing and pulling properly because of the high incident of related injuries. People in the nursing field also have the task of pushing and pulling some pretty heavy objects. This places stress on the entire back, shoulders, neck, wrists, and knees. When other manual assistance is hard to come by, motorized carts and chairs can make a world of difference in safety.
Nurses like their jobs. We need nurses. Providing a safer way for everyone in the nursing field to do their jobs helps us all. Fortunately, this is a time where ergonomics is an integral part of our work culture.
Additionally, legislation continues to pass bills that require lifting equipment and patient handling safety training in hospitals. If health care facilities can support their staff with equipment to make their jobs as safe as possible, nurses will have career longevity, facilities will be staffed, and patients will be in the best care possible.
Jacob Cummings is the National Sales Manager for PHS West, Inc. He has been with the company for 11 years. PHS West Inc manufactures customized material handling solutions for a variety of industries and applications. Products include motorized platform carts, endoscopy carts, dialysis carts, patient transport systems and motorized linen carts. Jacob has written a number of articles on ergonomics for Nursing.
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